The Airmen's Stories - P/O C R Fenwick

Charles Raymond Fenwick was born on 3rd November 1920 in Louth, Lincolnshire and joined the RAFVFR in May 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot. Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training at 18 EFTS and 5 FTS, was commissioned on 7th September 1940 and joined 610 Squadron at Acklington on the 29th.

Above: Fenwick (right) with fellow MSFU Pilot F/O DR Turley-George

On 7th November 1940 he escaped unhurt when his Spitfire I P9330 overturned on landing when it ran into boggy ground at Hooton Park.

Fenwick was one of the first MSFU pilots. He joined the Empire Franklyn on 3rd July 1941 and was reserve pilot on the Empire Tide in the ill-fated convoy PQ17 which sailed for Russia in late June 1942. The Empire Tide was one of only eleven ships which survived German attacks to reach Archangel on 24th July. Its Hurricane was still on the catapault.

His subsequent service is currently undocumented until he was released from the RAF in 1946 as a Squadron Leader. He died in March 1999.